What happened
On the morning of the accident, a medical evacuation mission was underway to transport a patient from Port Hope Simpson to St. Anthony, Newfoundland and Labrador. The flight originated from the operator's base in Forteau, Newfoundland and Labrador, with a departure time of roughly 0620 Newfoundland and Labrador daylight time.
At approximately 0650, the pilot established radio communication with an airfield attendant at the Port Hope Simpson Airport, reporting that the aircraft was four nautical miles from the destination and preparing for landing. At the time, the local weather was characterized by heavy fog. Following this transmission, all radio contact with the aircraft ceased. While the aircraft remained obscured by the fog, witnesses near the airfield reported hearing the sound of an engine increasing in power, immediately followed by the sound of a collision.
After the fog dissipated roughly 30 minutes later, smoke was observed rising from the hilly terrain located about four nautical miles west of the Port Hope Simpson Airport. A search party was organized from the local airport and located the wreckage at approximately 1100. The sole occupant of the aircraft was fatally injured during the event. The wreckage was found to be completely destroyed due to the force of the impact and a subsequent intense fire.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in foggy weather conditions during the approach to the airport.
- No signal was detected from an emergency locator transmitter.
- The wreckage sustained total destruction from both the initial impact and a severe post-crash fire.